Gaining Independence

Senior Sophia Gilbert traveled to France, Switzerland, and Italy on a school trip. On the trip, she had the chance to see iconic buildings including the Eiffel Tower. Her time in France gave Gilbert a taste of independence at a level she had never had before. “On the trip I felt really independent because it was the first big trip I had away from my parents,” she said. The community was amazing and the way the tour guide planned everything out was a “great learning experience.” She was also able to strengthen her relationships with some of her peers as well as with her French teacher, whom Gilbert and the other students call “Madame.” This trip gave students many experiences that not many people are ever able to have. “We had dinner on top of the Eiffel Tower which is a really stand out memory because you see pictures of things like the eiffel tower all your life, so it was such a surreal thing to experience. So it was crazy to actually be able to see it first hand, not only that but also have dinner inside of the tower,” said Gilbert. The trip also led to many learning experiences. “We had a lot of free time to just roam around by ourselves in the cities and to be able to time manage. It taught me independence and how to navigate places that I don’t really know well.” we go to Four Sisters Cafe.” The friends tried to arrive early because the cafe was usually busy, but upon getting there, they found that Ms. Parker had already saved a table. “We had been talking for about an hour and a half eating breakfast, touching on all subjects, but mostly about our love lives,” said Wardlaw. Ms. Parker has had a large impact on Wardlaw and is someone she looks up to. “I’ve never met a teacher as fun and real as Ms. Parker. She is loving, kind, funny, and someone who I look up to.” While maintaining a professional relationship, Ms. Parker has become more of their friend than their teacher. “We consider our group name Parker’s gals,” said Wardlaw. ”Your group of friends can definitely have a big impact on your life. I’m gonna miss our group as we all move into the next chapters of our life, but I know we’ll definitely stay in touch.”